The future is left

The only criticism I have is being an American source they conflate liberal with leftist. Most of what they talk about is more left wing than so called "liberalism."

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BohemianBoo · M

I think it's more accurate to say the future is left-leaning Liberalism, similar to the Social Democracy of Europe.
We're really no where near giving up Capitalism, so the future isn't Leftism. But still, Social Democracy would be much better than the current Neo-Liberalism that we have.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@BohemianBoo Actually if you look at what social democracy actually is historically (not the watered down American view) is very much leftist.

The difference between democratic socialism and Marxists for example has only ever been incrementalism vs revolution. The end goal is the same.

It is only in the context of the US that AOC and Bernie are seen as the end goal. lol

BohemianBoo · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Social Democracy isn't Socialism, though. It's basically Capitalism with lots of generous welfare programs, like they have in Northern Europe. There's also more of a focus on fixing system issues, rather than individual issues.
And yeah, this is what American Progressives want. This is to the Left of modern Liberalism, which is a good step up, but it is still Liberalism.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@BohemianBoo Again, that is a pretty much uniquely American spin on it. In Canada and Europe what you describe is just called capitalism.

And as for plenty of American progressives at least in new media. They are basically beyond that point. Particularly in the Millenial/ GenZ demographics.

BohemianBoo · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Well yeah, there's no country on Earth that is actually left-wing. The closest we have are the Nordic countries which have Social Democracy. But that's still Capitalism, it's just not insane American Capitalism.

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@BohemianBoo Actually I would disagree. There are plenty of other far more left wing countries some that are not capitalist but are in the so called "developing world" so basically are never talked about in the so called "west".

BohemianBoo · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Which countries would those be?

PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M

@BohemianBoo Well if we are talking about Marxist countries the first that come to mind are Vietnam and Laos.

In terms of countries that still have market economies but are farther left than the Nordic countries take a look at Portugal. They are the only country in Europe I know of where basically all the top 3 parties are some flavor of socialist or communist.

Heck even the preamble of their constitution states a goal of establishing a socialist society.